The request came during a conference call Obama held Friday with rabbis and Jewish community leaders in advance of the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashannah – the Jewish New Year.

At the start of the call, a delegation of the rabbis presented to the president a joint request for Pollard's release.

He is currently completing his 27th year in prison for a crime that normally carries a maximum sentence of two to four years – passing classified information to an ally.

Pollard was sentenced to life in prison in the 1980s for passing classified information to Israel.

Sources who participated in the conference call said after the conversation, “We hope that in these days in which we pray for mercy and compassion the president will be just and end this tragedy that clouds the joy of the holiday for so many people.”